Device for protecting heel portions of shoes in low-slung automobiles



Dec. 4, 1962 E. E MATTHEWS 3,066,427

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING HEEL PORTIONS 0F SHOES IN LOW-SLUNG AUTOMOBILES Filed July 24, 1962 IN VEN TOR [A 5/5 E L /Z/7B77/ M4 mam/s eimlca wyv H TTORA/E Y 3,366,427 DEVICE Fills; PRQTEQTFATNG HEEL PGRTKUNS G1 SHQES 1N LGW-SLUNG AUTQMGBiLEfi Elsie Elizabeth Matthews, 52 Lafayette Place, Apt. 14, Greenwich, Qonn. Filed 1111151 24, 1962, 321'. No. 212,087 Claims. (1. 36-72) This invention relates to a device for protecting heel portions of shoes in low-slung automobiles. More particularly, the invention relates to a device of flexible sheet material, readily attachable to and detachable from a foot to envelop and protect the heel portion of a shoe when riding in, and particularly when operating, present day low-slung automobiles.

For some time in sports cars, and more recently in conventional automobiles, the trend ha been away from a true sitting position and toward a semi-reclining position for the occupants with the legs extended and feet elevated. While this makes for comfortable and relaxed riding, it presents a serious problem, particularly for women with high heeled shoes, since in the semireclined position the orientation of the feet brings the heel portions of the shoe uppers into direct contact with the floor surfacing and the grit and dirt which has been carried in on the feet of occupants. The result is that considerable damage to shoes results from merely riding in low-slung automobiles.

The problem becomes acute for the driver, since the drivers position is the most used and has the greatest accumulation of grit and dirt. Furthermore, the driver cannot do anything by way of placement of the feet to avoid shoe damage, since foot placement is governed by the location of the accelerator and other operating pedals. Women drivers are well aware of this problem, and many have a separate pair of driving shoes in the car, and will change to these while driving in order to prevent damage to the shoes they may be wearing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new heel protecting device for shoes which may be easily attached to and detached from the foot of the user, and which will effectively prevent scufiing, soiling and damaging of the heel portions of the shoes through contact with automobile floors, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple and inexpensive to produce, attractive in appearance, adaptable to various foot sizes, and at the same time sufficiently comfortable and close fitting so that it may be worn continuously when shopping and otherwise engaged in intermittent uses of an auto-mobile.

These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understood when considering the following description, together with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a typical adaptation of heel protecting device in accordance with the present invention with the various parts thereof identified by suitable reference characters in the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a portion of a womans foot, shown with a high-heeled shoe, oriented in typical operato-rs position with respect to an automobile floor and accelerator pedal, having the heel protecting device attached.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the heel protecting device shown in FIG. 1 on a somewhat enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a broken sectional view along the lines 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the strap portion of the device as viewed from the lower side, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

In FIG. 1 the new heel protecting device is shown rates ate associated with a womans foot 11 wearing a shoe 12, with the assemblage oriented in typical automobile operating position with the toe 13 engaging an accelerator pedal 14 and with the foot engaging the auto floor 15 substantially at the point where the shoe heel 16 meets the rear or heel portion 17 of the shoe. This point of contact of contact will, of course, be constantly shifting as the accelerator is depressed to greater or lesser degrees so that a substantial area of the heel 16 and rear, heel portion 17 of the shoe upper would, but for the protecting device 10, come into direct contact with the floor 15 and with the grit and dirt accumulated there through normal use. Thus, the showing in FIG. 1 illustrates both the nature of the problem which confronts women drivers, and the fact that the new heel protecting device provides effective protection at the precise location needed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawing, the heel protecting device 10 comprises a symmetrical formed side Wall part 18 having a mid-section 19 somewhat wider than the ends 20, 21 and having means along the central portion of the lower edge 22 as indicated by the tuck lines 23 for imparting a compound curvature to the part so that it will closely conform to the heel contour of a shoe upper, as seen in FIG. 1. The lower edge 22, suitably through a narrow inturned flange 24 is secured along convergent side edges 25, 26 and cen tral arcuate portion 27 of a symmetrical bottom wall 28. Between the free ends of said side edges 25 and 26, the bottom wall has a symmetrical cutout formed by essentially straight edges 29, 30 which meet at an internal angle 31 of slightly greater than Secured to the upper portion of one forward end 29 of the side wall part 18, and in substantial alignment therewith, is a short end portion 32 of an instep encircling strap 33 which as shown in FIG. 4, has a shal low V-shaped contour facilitating comfortable fitting over the instep. The free end 34 is adjustably secured to a buckle part 35 comprising a center rib 36 and side ribs 37, 37 spaced thereform and joined together by end ribs 38, 38', the manner of lacing the strap end through the buckle part 35 in adjustably positioning the same being apparent from FIG. 5 or the drawing.

The center rib 36 of the buckle part carries a protruding stem 39 having an enlarged head 40, providing a male snap fastening element for detachable engagement with a conventional female snap fastener assemblage 41 or socket part, which is secured to the upper portion of the end 21 of side wall part 18 (in alignment with mounting end 32 of the instep strap on the opposed end 20 of said side wall part).

When initially fitting the heel protecting device to a particular shoe, the device is placed against the rear portion of the shoe with the bottom wall 28 being de flected downwardly in the central portion thereof to con form to the particular contour of the heel 16. The male fastener element 39, 40 is positioned longitudinally of the strap 33 by adjustment of the strap end 34 with respect to the buckle part 35, so that when inserted in the socket part 41, the strap 33 will closely envelop the instep without binding to thereby support the device firmly against the heel 16 and heel portion 17 of the shoe upper as shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter the device can be repeatedly used Without adjustment when wearing the same or similar type shoes, but at the same time can be quickly and easily refitted if necessary, to accommodate shoes having a heel 16 of substantially differing contour.

It is considered that the adjustable feature above described for the strap 33, while useful to the individual in providing snug fitting of the device with different type shoes, is also of practical significance in permitting a single production model of the device to be utilized with a wide range of foot sizes and shoe styling. Thus, for example, it is considered that one size device with the adjustable feature could be used by 60 to 70% of the women, and that the other 30 to 40% should probably be accommodated with one smaller size and one larger size device.

The side wall part 18, the bottom wall 28, and the strap 33 can be fashioned from any flexible sheet material, including Without limitation, fabrics, rubber, plastic sheeting, and the like. The manner of assemblage of the parts can similarly be varied, depending upon the construction material, and can include such means as stitching, cementing, or heat sealing. It is also within the scope of the invention to mold these parts in assembled relationship, using suitable thermo-plastic material.

From the standpoint of ease of production and suitably for use with different colors and styles of shoes, a preferred form of device embodies side wall part 18, bottom wall 28, and strap 33 of clear, colorless vinyl plastic, or other thermo-plastic sheeting whereby the tucks 23, the securing of the flange 24 to the bottom wall 28, and the securing of the strap end 32 to the side wall 18 can be effected by simple heat sealing operation.

Various changes and modifications in the heel protecting device as herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the art, and to the extent that such changes and modifications are embraced by the appended claims, it is to be understood that they constitute part of the invention.

I claim:

1. A device for protecting heel portions of shoes comprising a formed side wall part of flexible sheet material for enveloping rear and side portions of a shoe upper, a bottom wall part of flexible sheet material having convergent side edges and a central arcuate edge, said side edges and central arcuate edge of the bottom wall part being secured to said side wall part along one lower edge thereof, and strap means having one end integral with one forward upper corner of said side wall portion and a free end having means detachably 4 engaging the other forward upper corner of said side Wall portion for enveloping the instep in securing the device in heel engaging position over the shoe and foot of a wearer.

2. A device for protecting heel portions of shoes as defined in claim 1, wherein the means detachably engaging said other forward upper corner of said side wall portion includes means adjustably positioning the same longitudinally of said strap means.

3. A device for protecting heel portions of shoes as defined in claim 1, wherein the formed side wall part has a plurality of tucks spaced centrally of the lower edge portion thereof, imparting to said side wall part a compound curvature closely conforming to the curvature of rear and side portions of a shoe upper.

4. A device for protecting heel portions of shoes as defined in claim 1, wherein said bottom Wall part has at the side thereof and opposed to said arcuate edge a cutout extending substantially into the bottom wall part permitting the lower portion of the heel to protrude through said bottom wall part when the device is associated with a womans high heeled shoe. 7

5. A device for protecting heel portions of shoes as defined in claim 1, wherein said bottom wall part has at the side thereof and opposed to said arcuate edge a cutout extending substantially into the bottom wall part permitting the lower portion of the heel to protrude through said bottom wall part when the device is as sociated with a womans high heeled shoe, while the remainder of said bottom wall part is extended downwardly to envelop and protect the upper portion of said shoe heel.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,442,028 Phillips Jan. 9, 1923 1,702,999 Freysinger Feb. 19, 1929 1,707,189 Hayden Mar. 26, 1929 1,712,976 Blair May 14, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS 643,940 France May 22, 1928 

